Still.



PATNTBD SEPT. l, 1903.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.`

STILL.

APPLICATION HLLD JULY 14, 1902.

No MODEL.

No. 737,756. PATBNTED SEPT. 1, 1903.

W. MAYBURY.

STILL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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No. 737,756. `l PATENTBD SEPT. l, 1903K.

. W. MAYBURY.

STILL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1902..

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNiTED STATESY Patented September. 1, 1903.

lPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM MAYBURY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF SIXTEENFORTY-FIFTI-IS TO NORMAN WILLIAMS AND ARMITAGE S. O. FORBES, OF

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

STILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Mtters Patent No. 737,756, dated September1, 1903.

Application filed .Tuly 14, 1902.

To cir/ZZ whom, it 11m/y concern: i

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MAYBURY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Stills, ofVWhich the following is a specification.

In the distillation of petroleum-oils, coal or vegetable tars,spirituous liquors, or other xo volatile compounds it is desirable thatthe process be conducted in a rapid, economic, andV effective manner andthat Where necessary the products of the distillation be separated withas little intermingling of the r 5 diiferent grades as possible. Thenecessity for this is at once apparent when it isknown that as many astwenty diiferent hydrocarbons from petroleum and coal-tar are capable ofseparation by heat into valuable commerzo cial commodities.

In the form of still in which the material being treated is placed in acylindrical vessel and heat applied thereto to drive off the differentvolatile particles such stills generally z 5 have a capacity varyingfrom three hundred to twelve thousand gallons and are from three toseven feet in diameter and of various lengths, and they are supported ina horizontal position4 in suitable brickWork and exposed 3o to the heatof the furnace their entire length and from one-half to two-thirds oftheir circumference. Owing to the presence of such a large body of oil,it has been found impossible to remove all of the vapor of the samedensity at the same time, for the reason that the oil contained in thecenter could not receive the same degree of heat as that at the surface,owing to its greater distance from the source of heat. The result isthat several dif- 4o ferent vapors or vapors of different densities aredriven off the body of oil at the same time, which necessarily producesa mixture or intermingling of said vapors to such an extent as toproduce an oil of inferior quality i; and ofuncertain specific gravity.In addition to this the very light fractions or portions of the'vaporsare decomposed into permanent gases by the excessive heat to which theyare' exposed before they can be con- 5o ducted from the retort. Afterthe vapors Serial No. 115,5 70. (No model.)

have been removed in this manner and condensed into liquid form it isthen found necessary to subject them to from one to three furtherfractional distillations and as many more chemical treatments toproperly separate or grade the different oils and produce anarticle ofmerchantable value.

In the form of continuous stills in which the material to be treated isintroduced into one end of a long pipe or still and subjected to varyingdegrees "of heat in its passage through the still the severalfractionated parts or vapors from which the different grades of oil arecondensed must necessarily travel from the point in the still at whichthey are liberated to the discharge-outlet before they can escape. Inmaking this journey it is evident that the different grades mustnecessarily become so intimately mixed or intermingled that it is almostimpossible to properly and effectively separate them after they havebeen discharged. In addition to this many of them, and especially thelighter grades, become so incorporated with the asphaltum or parts of agreater density as to be entirely lost, owing to the impossibility ofeconomically and effectively separating them therefrom after they havebeen discharged. Further, many of the products are turned into permanentgases by the excessive heat to which they must be subjected, and it hasbeen found impossible to efficiently and thoroughly separate thediferent grades after they have been discharged into the receiver orseparator placed ou the outside of the furnace for receiving andcondensing the distillized products. i

In either of the above-described processes Vit is impossible to givewhat is known as the standard flash or fire test without the particularproduct being fractionated over again, which is both costly andtroublesome.

The object of my invention is to produce an apparatus by means of whicha constant stream of material to be treated is introduced 95 at thepoint farthest from the source of heat and caused to travel in a pathwhich constantly approaches said source of heat and to remove thedifferent grades or qualities of vapors as soon as they have beenliberated roo from the material and conducting each of said grades to aseparate condenser or receiver. In this manner it is impossible Vfor thedierent grades or qualities of the vapor to become mixed or commingled,and it also determines the amountv of heat at which said grade has beenvolatilized, thereby determining without further process the fire testof said vapor, as the degree of heat in the furnace to which the oil issubjected where any given grade is driven off or volatilized is alwaysknown or lmay be easily determined. Such an apparatus will also permitofthe process of separation or fractionation being stopped at any point,as the heat for the furnace, which is preferably applied by means ofhydrocarbon-burners, can be sograduated or arranged as to not exceed apredetermined degree at the point of discharge, or the heat may beapplied and controlled at any desired point along the path of thematerial being treated and the material then discharged as soon as ithas been subjected to the desired degree of heat.

With this and other objects in view my invention consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement of parts of a still, as willbe hereinafter more fully set forth.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure I is an end elevation of one form of apparatus embodying myinvention. Fig. II is a transverse vertical sectional View of the sameon the line II II of Fig. IV. Fig. III is a horizontal sectional view onthe line III III of Fig. IV. Fig. IV is a longitudinal sectional view onthe line IV IV of Fig. I. Fig. V is a sectional detail of theconnectorpipes, showing the ejector by which suction is produced to aidin the withdrawaltbf the volatilized material. Figs. VI and VII aresectional details showing modified forms of the ejector. Fig. VIII is asectional detail of the means which I prefer to employ for supportingthe floor or dome-partition. Fig. IX is an end view of the still proper,showing the condensing tank and chambers and the connections of thevapor-outlet pipes therewith.

In constructing a still to carry out my process of distillation orfractionation of volatilizable material a suitable chamber or fu rnace 1is constructed of suitable material, as brick or metal, or both, of asuflicient size to receive the still or alembic 2. One or more burners3, preferably hydrocarbon, are arranged in the bottom of the chamber infront of a fire wall 4. for supplying the proper amount of heat forvolatilizing or vaporizing the material as it passes through the still.The top of the furnace may be formed substantially dome-shaped incross-section, as shown at 5, and separated from the -interior of thechamber by means of a door or partition 6. A flue or chimney 7 leadsfrom the dome, preferably the central portion, and a damper or dampers 8are arranged for controlling openings 9 at or adjacent to the ends ofthepartition 6. The dampers may be arranged to slide or turn over saidopenings as desired and are controlled by means of handles 10, whichproject through the wall of the furnace in position to be manipulated.

Although I do not limit myself to any particular form or construction offurnace, in the drawings I have shown the walls of the furnace asconstructed from metal 11, which may be lined or protected withbrickwork 12.

(Shown only in dotted lines in Fig. II.) The metal may be formed in anydesired manner, continuous or in sections, and be bolted or otherwisesecured together, as by means of stay-bolts 13 of the ordinary or anypreferred construction.y The upper edge ofeachI wall is preferablyformed with an extended cap 14, from the inner side of which projects abracket 15 for the support of the partition 6, the partition beingpreferably provided with a depending fiange 16 for hooking over orengaging with an upturned portion of the bracket. The central portion ofthe Wall may be provided with a rib or projection 17.,y preferablytriangular in cross-section. The lower edges of the dome 5 are groovedor recessed,

as shown at 18, to fit over said rib and hold the dome in position.

The still or alembic is preferably formed from a number of pieces orsections of pipe 19, which may be of any desired sizeand structure .andextend from end to end of the furnace, a short portion of each sectionpreferably extending beyond or projecting through the ends of thefurnace. Each section is given a slight inclination to cause thematerial to dow through the still, and'the ends ofthe successivesections are joined upon the exterior of the furnace by means of shortconnectors 20 to form a continuous conduit. The connectors arepreferably given a greater inclination than the sections to cause thematerial to pass more quickly from one section to the other as saidpassage takes place exterior of the furnace and in order to providepositively for the downward flow of the oil to prevent any possibilityof its ascending into the vapor-outlet pipes. The connectors may besecured to the ends of the sections in any suitable manner, although Iprefer to use an ordinary coupling, as a fourway T or cross 21.Connected with as many of the couplings as may be desired are means, aspipes 22, for permitting the escape of any Volatilized material whichmay have formed within the still by the time the material reaches thatpoint from its entrance or from the last point at which the volatilizedmaterial had escaped. The pipe 22 leads into or through a tank B, ofcold water, for the condensation of the vapors. C C represent theseveral condensation-ehambers into which the pipes 22, respectively,communicate, as shown. The respective chambers C are thus adapted toreceive the respective grades or kinds of oils produced by thedistillation, such as gasolene, benzin &c. To assist in with- IIOdrawing the volatilized material at these points or outlets, suction isproduced, as by an ejector of any desired form-as, for instance, a pipe23, which receives a jet of steam or other suitable medium from a pipe24 and discharges it into the outlet-pipe 22. The pipe 24 receives itsmedium from any suitable source of supply (not shown) and is preferablycommon to all of the ej ectors upon that end of the furnace andcommunicates with each of them through a pipe-section 25 and is providedwith any suitable form of valve for controlling the entrance to each oneof the ejectors. Where it is desired to use, my process and apparatusfor very fine distillation or fractionating work, each ejector may beconnected with a tank or reservoir, (not shown but where such inegraduation is not desirable two or more ejectors may be connected withor discharged into the same tank. The ejector and the outlet-pipe mayconnect with each other in a direct line, as by having the ejector-pipeenter the coupling through the arm of the cross directly opposite theoutlet-pipe, as shown in Fig. V, or the ejector-pipe may enter through areducer 26 (see Fig. VII) in one of the other arms and be provided witha nipple or bent at an angle to register with or enter the outlet-pipe.(See Fig. VI.) The outlet-pipe is preferably straight for a sufficientdistance from the ejector-pipe to cause the most effective operation ofthe ejector before said outlet is bent or curved to lead to the tank.Any arm of the cross which is not being utilized can be stopped with anordinary plug 27.

As shown, an inlet-pipe 28 leads from a suitable source of supply. (Notshown.) This pipe 2S connects with the upper section 30 of the sill,preferably by means of a Y block or union 31, which is provided with twopassages 32, which communicate, respectively, With the section 30, andwith one of such passages 32 said oil-inlet pipe 2S communicates. Asteam-inlet pipe 29 is preferably connected with the union 3l andcommunicates with other the passage 32. The pipes 28 and 29 are providedwith inlet-valves,` as shown. IVhen it is desired to thoroughly cleansethe distilling-pipes, steam is admitted from the steam-inlet pipe 29. I,however, do not admit steam into the distilling-pipes when distilling,as I nd that the mixture of steam stirs up the oil, the agitation causesthe oil to foam, and the expansion of the steam in the oil, causingvapors to arise therefrom, carries up in suspension from the body of theoil heavy impurities, thus rendering the distilled product impure anddark-colored, reducingits commercial value, and rendering it much lessmarketable. It is therefore much more desirable to distil oil withoutmixing with theV oil any steam and without stirring or agitating thebody of oil while distillation takes place.

As the crude petroleums have a greater or less amount of what are knownas permanent gases, which are released with the least degree of heat andwhich should be separated as quickly as possible, I provide anoutlet-pipe 33 at the end of the furnace opposite the inlet to section30, through which said gases may escape into a separate receptacle (notshown) provided for their reception.

In constructing a still as above described, with its series ofpipe-sections extending back and forth through the center thereof, Wherethey are constantly subjected to a greater or less amount of heat andatthe same time must support the onl'lowing stream of material and mustalso be of a certain length to be effective, it is desirablethat thesections be supported at one or more points intermediate their lengthwithin the furnace. I accomplish this by providing a column 34, whichextends from the bottom of the furnace to the iioor or partition at thetop and provide it with brackets 35 for the reception of the diderentsections of the still. By arranging the column between the sections ofthe still, which are preferably arranged in two vertical series, theWeight of the sections rests upon the opposite sides of the column, andthereby prevents the liability of the column moving out of plumb. Tofurther assist in holding the column in its vertical position, it may bebraced, as by being secured to the under side of the floor or partition6 in any suitable manner, as by blocks or brackets 36.

In using my improved still the material to be operated upon is fed intothe upper end of the still after the burner has been started and asuicient heat generated for the desired distillation. As the materialpasses through the upper section any permanent gases that may becontained therein will be liberated and will be removed from saidsection at the opposite end of the furnace through the outlet-pipeprovided therefor. The materialthen passes into the succeeding sectionsof the still, and as it dows from the top of the furnace to the bottomthe increasing amount of heat which it receives will cause the morevolatile portions to be successively driven oif vor separated from theheavier particles. As the amount of material passing through the stillis not sulcient to entirely fill the dierent sections, the volatileportions are collected in the diiferent sections above the material andare removed from the ends by the ejectors or other means, which areconstantly effecting a suction from the different sections into thedischargepipes and are delivered from there into the reservoirs orcondensers provided for the reception of the different grades of vaporsbeing separated. NVith my ejector I do not depend upon an uncertainsuction for re-A moving the vapors or volatilized portions from thedistilling-sections. I provide means in the form of ejectors, which arenot` only IOO IIO

Isf)

adapted to create a suction in the distillingsections, but are adaptedto deliver a vjet of steam into the vapors as they emerge into theoutlets from such distilling-sections, forcing them to thecondensing-chambers. Thus it is seen that with my ejectors positive andefficient means are provided to induce and compel each grade or qualityof vapor or volatilized oil to separate from the others and pass to therespective condensing-chamber provided therefor. For instance, the firstvapor to pass off from the crude petroleum, owing to its high specificgravity, is gasolene. The next will be naphtha, the next benzin and anywater that may be in the mixture, as the benzin is volatilized atsubstantially the same temperature at which water is vaporized.Following the benzin and water is the kerosene grade, after which comethe parafns, then the lubricating oils, and finally the asphaltum orresiduun portions, which are non-volatilizable except at excessivelyhigh temperatures. 1

By constructing the still in such a manner that the material to betreated is introduced at the coolest point of the furnace and graduallyled into the hottest portion each grade or density of vapor remains in aliquid form and iiows onward with the entire mass until itv reaches avpoint in the furnace where it is subjected to a degree of heatsufficient to volatilize it, when it immediately separates from the massand passes out through the proper discharge or outlet pipe. In thismanner it is prevented from intermingling with the lighter grades,because each of them has been withdrawn at its proper vpoint in thestill, and it cannot intermingle with those of a heavier grade, becausethey7 have not been liberated from the mass at the point at which saidgrade passes o.

As the heat within the furnace can be regulated by means of the burnerat the bottom and the dampers at the top, a constant stream of materialmay be passed through the still, thereby producing a still of greatcapacity and economy of operation and at the same time producing aresult that is much more desirable than can be obtained by treating alarge mass of material in a tank or discharging the various productsfrom a continuous pipe into a common receptacle and subsequentlyseparating them into their dierent grades.

. to change or vary the degree of heat at different points.

Although I have shown what I consider a very desirable form of still andhave described it as being more particularly applicable to crudepetroleum and the heavier products, it is evident that changes andalterations may be made in the form of the still and that it may beapplied to other materials, as vegetable oils, spirituous liquors, &c.,and I reserve the right to make any and all such variations in thestructure and to adapt it for such other uses as may come within thespirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a still, a furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed frompipe-sections, the ends of said sections extending through the walls ofthe furnace and provided with couplings, connectors between saidcouplings, and means in a portion ofthe couplings for creating a suctionthrough the respective pipe-sections, and for forcing the vapor orvolatilized oil in said respective sections throughv said outlets, saidmeans arranged to operate upon the volatilized portions only.

2. Ina still, a furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed frompipe-sections, the ends of said sections extending through the walls ofthe furnace and provided with couplings, connectors between thecouplings of the successive pipe-sections, and an ejector in each of aportion of said couplings.

3. In a still, a furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed frompipe-sections, the

ends of said sections extending through thel Vwalls of the furnaceandprovided with a fourway T coupling, connectors between the couplingsof the successive pipes, outlet-pipes communicating with a portion ofsaid couplings, and an ejector pipe communicating 'with each couplingthat is provided with an outlet-pipe.

4. In a still, ay furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed frominclined pipe-sections and connectors, the connectors being upon theexterior of the furnace and having a greater inclination than thepipe-sections, means for discharging vapors at dierent points ,along thelength of said conduit, and ejector means in said discharging means,adapted to draw respective grades of vapor or volatilized oil into saiddischarging means and force the same therethrough.

5. Ina still, a furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed frompipe-sections and connectors, the inlet-section being in the coolestportion of the furnace and provided with an outlet for the permanentgases,means at dierent points along the conduit for discharging vaporstherefrom, and ejector means in said discharging means, adapted to drawrespective grades of vapor or volatilized oil into said dischargingmeans and force the same therethrough.

IIO

6. In a still, a furnace provided with a y burner at its bottom and aperforated partition near the top, said perforations being adjacent tothe ends of the partition and each provided with means for controllingthe same, a chimney from the top of the furnace intermediate saidperforatious, and a continuous conduit within the furnace provided withvapor-outlets along its length.

7. In a still, a furnace provided With a dome-shaped top and aperforated partition, dampers for controlling the openings through saidpartition, and a continuous conduit Within the furnace formed frompipe-sections, the ends of which sections extend through the Walls ofthe furnace and are provided With vapor-outlets.

8. In a still, a furnace provided With a dome-shaped top and aperforatedpartition, dampers for controlling the openings through said partition,a continuous conduit Within the furnace formed from pipe-sections, theends of which sections extend through the Walls of the furnace and areprovided with vapor-outlets, and a support Within the furnace for saidsections.

9. In a still, a furnace provided with a perforated partition in thetop, dampers for said openings, a continuous conduit Within the furnaceformed from pipe-sections, the ends of said sections extending throughthe Walls of the furnace and provided With vapor-outlets, the sectionsbeing arranged Within the furnace iu tWo vertical series, a columnbetween said series provided With brackets for supporting the differentpipe-sections.

10. In a still, a furnace, a continuous conduit therein formed frominclined pipe-sec tions and connectors, the connectors having greaterinclination than the pipe-sections, vapor-outlets provided in connectionwith said connectors, condensing-chambers connected with respectiveoutlets, and steamejector pipes in said outlets adapted to draw out thevapor from respective pipe-sections and force the same through theoutlets into the condensing-chambers.

l1. In a still, a furnace, a continuous distilling-conduit therein,formed of inclined pipe-sections, and connector-sections, saidconnector-sections having greater inclination than the pipe-sections,vapor-outlets provided in connection with said connector-sections,condensing-chambers connected with outlets from respectiveconnector-sections, and steam-ejectors arranged in said connectorsections adapted to emit steam into said outlets and draw vapor from therespective pipesections into said outlets and force the same through theoutlets into the condensingchamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of subscribing Witnesses, at Los Angeles, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, this 26th day of June, 1902.

WILLIAM MAYBURY.

Witnesses:

W. S. BoYD J AMESv R. ToWNsnND, A. S. C. FoRBEs.

